London wakes to one of its legendary fogs

"When one of the thick, yellowish compounds known as a "pea-soup" fog falls on London it makes day darker than the darkest night; it arrests all traffic, obliterates all landmarks, and, as Mrs. Browning says, it looks 'as if a sponge had wiped out London.' The city is transformed into ghostland." The New York Times, December 29, 1889.

Dylan Martinez / Reuters

Fog engulfs London Bridge as commuters make their way towards the financial district across the River Thames during the early morning rush hour in London, England on March 15, 2012.

The fog was indeed thick as I crossed the Thames on my way into work in London this morning. In its wake, thank goodness, have come bright blue skies and city's warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures expected to reach into the high sixties.

Andrew Winning / Reuters

The pods on the London Eye cast shadows against a thick morning fog as the spring sun shine begins to burn it off in central London, March 15, 2012.

Matt Dunham / AP

Commuters walk through fog as seen from the north side of Westminster Bridge in London on March 15, 2012.